Cumin is a species of plant used as an ingredient in several recipes. If you are unfamiliar with the taste of cumin, you are at the right place. We will discuss in this article different aspects of Cumin, such as its earthy taste and How can you cook it? Does it offer any health benefits? Etc. Once you’ve read this article, we are sure you would want to make cumin a regular part of your diet.
Table of Contents
What Is Cumin?
Cumin is a species of flowering plant and is a member of the Apiaceae family. The plant is native to the Iran-Turanian area. Whole cumin seeds contain a fruit, which is dried and used in many cuisines around the globe.
What Does Cumin Taste Like?
Cumin has an earthy flavor and hint of citrus and is hearty and rich. Cumin adds depth instantly to all types of dishes. It is better to use ground cumin rather than whole cumin seeds in different dishes, especially if you want the flavor to spread evenly in the dish.
How is Cumin Made?
You can easily make cumin ground powder at home by following these simple steps:
Step 1
First, take a pan and pour in the cumin.
Step 2
Start dry roasting the cumin on medium heat for a minute or two.
Step 3
Once the cumin is hot, lower the heat, and keep stirring the pan. The cumin will begin to smell aromatic, strong, and earthy within a minute or two. The color of the cumin will also change. Once the cumin is cooked, turn the heat off, and remove the pan from the stove. Once the pan is off the heat, keep stirring it for at least a minute. Then, let the pan cool down.
Step 4
Add the cumin to a spice grinder, and grind at 30 to 50-second intervals. Continue this step until the cumin is in powdered form.
Step 5
Scrape the sides of the grinder with a spoon, and if needed, grind the cumin for a bit longer.
Step 6
If your grinder is not powerful enough to process cumin, sieve the cumin, and grind it in the grinding machine. Then, let the cumin power cool off, store the cumin in an airtight container, and store it in a pantry for 2 to 3 months.
If you plan to store the cumin in the fridge, it will last even longer, around 6 months. If you have made large quantities of cumin, store it in small jars.
How Do You Cook Cumin?
How you cook cumin will depend on the recipe. Some recipes require ground cumin, whereas others require cumin seed. If you want to use whole cumin seeds, you should add them to the recipe early on, so the cumin has time to release its nutty flavor. Ground cumin has other uses as well as it is used as a seasoning for hearty dishes, in a marinade, or as part of a rub.
If you choose to switch to ground cumin from whole seed cumin, you will need to change the quantity. This is necessary because ground cumin and whole cumin seeds differ in flavor. Ground cumin is also more concentrated than whole seed cumin. Check out 5 Best Pizzelle Makers and 5 Best Water Test Kits.
What Do You Eat Cumin With?
In Indian curries, cumin is the main ingredient. Cumin also pairs well with different dishes such as chili con carne, barbecue sauces, bread, soups, and stew dishes. However, during the cooking process, it is best to be conservative as its strong flavor can overwhelm the dish’s flavor.
Usually, cumin is consumed by vegan dieters and vegetarians, as it adds a meaty and savory quality to recipes. Whole cumin seeds also go well with different recipes, such as steamed rice and salads. To make a curry, you can use diced tomatoes, onions, and cumin seeds oil. Check out 5 Best Plantain Chips and 5 Best Pizza Stones.
Since cumin is part of the carrot family, it is often used to make carrot soup. This ancient spice can also pair well with beans, dates, venison, chicken, lamb, beef, potatoes, tomatoes, black pepper, eggplant, onions, lentils, and parsnips. Here are some recipes that you can try with cumin:
Homemade Gyro Meat
Ingredients
- Garlic Powder: ½ tsp.
- Ground Cumin: ½ tsp.
- Greektown Seasoning: 4 tbsp.
- Ground Meat (Beef/Pork/Chicken/Lamb or other meat varieties): 1 pound
Instructions
- Into the ground meat, blend all the seasonings thoroughly.
- Take a frying pan, and place a thin layer of meat in the base. You can also place the meat later on a baking sheet.
- Broil or bake the meat until well done.
- You can also cook the meat under a charcoal grill, a broiler, or skewers.
- Cut the strips approximately an inch wide and serve them with sliced tomatoes and onions on pita bread.
Creeping Reaper Hot Sauce
Ingredients
- Kosher Salt: 2 tsp.
- Squeeze Lime Juice (Fresh): 1 tbsp.
- Garlic: 1 Bulb
- Honey: ¼ Cup
- Water: ¼ Cup
- Apple Cider Vinegar: 1 Cup
- Guajillo Chiles: 6
- Carolina Reaper Chiles: 4
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 Degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice the top off the garlic bulb, coat it with olive oil and wrap the bulb in a tin foil. Bake the garlic for half an hour until it is golden brown and tender. Once done, let the garlic cool for a bit and eliminate the cloves from the garlic’s skin.
- Remove the stems and seeds from the Chile peppers. Chop the Guajillo into 1 or ½ inch pieces.
- In a pot, combine vinegar and water, and add the chiles. Let the mixture simmer under low or medium heat for an hour, and cover the pot with a lid. Do not let the mixture burn or boil.
- Remove the Chiles from the mixture, and save all the liquid. Add salt, Chiles, and garlic to a blender or food processor. Pure the mixture to a fine paste, and if required, add vinegar.
- Push the puree through a sieve to remove large pieces of the pepper.
- In a blender or mixing bowl, whisk or blend all the ingredients until the honey dissolves. At this time, add the lime juice and spices to the mixture.
- Bottle the mixture and serve it.
Is Cumin Good For You?
Here are some health benefits of cumin:
Helps Digestion
Cumin has always been used to treat ingestion. Cumin can also increase the activity of the digestive enzyme, which enables the digestive system to pick up speed. Cumin also helps the liver to release a large quantity of bile. Bile helps digest essential nutrients and fats in the gut. Check out 5 Best Pizza Peels.
High In Iron
Cumin seeds have a naturally high content of iron. A tsp. of iron typically contains 1.4 milligrams of iron. Few food varieties are as iron dense as cumin, making this spice a rich iron source.
Can Help Diabetic Patients
Some components of cumin have shown diabetes healing properties. Cumin also has properties that can treat long-term diabetes. However, more research is needed in this area before a conclusion can be drawn.
Related Questions About Cumin?
Where To Buy Cumin From?
Most grocery stores have whole cumin seeds in the spice aisle. However, it is cheaper to buy cumin in international markets targeting Middle Eastern, African, Latin American, or Indian Cuisine. In most grocery stores, ground cumin is readily available.
How To Store Cumin?
You can keep cumin seeds in the freezer for a long time, especially if you use them regularly. You can also store the cumin seeds in the pantry for 3 to 4 months. However, the storage place must be cool and dark. The best place to store cumin is a spice cabinet.
Conclusion
This article contains all the necessary information regarding cumin, so you will get some much-needed clarity if you have any confusion. After reading about cumin, we would also hope that you will make it a part of your diet.
Sources:
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